The Blueprint: 8.13.09: Bowling Over Brian

Posted by Patrick Mullin on 08.13.2009

Brian Bowles just shocked the MMA world, especially Miguel Torres who hadn't lost for years before meeting him. How the hell can you beat this guy? Read on...

The Blueprint: Bowling Over Brian

Welcome back loyal readers! If you don't know by now(and you damn well should), this is…The Blueprint! That's right, it's the column where we take the best fighters in the game and we give you the keys to victory against them. In addition we're also going to size up the potential opposition, and give you the idea of who has the best chance of taking them out.



As promised this week we're going to be taking a look at Brian Bowles, the NEW…WEC Bantamweight Champion of the world. First of all before we start lets give credit where its due and congratulate Bowles for doing what many of us thought was unthinkable. Bowles went in there and in under a round he earned himself a KO victory over Miguel Torres, universally considered the best bantamweight in the world and a top five pound for pound fighter in his own right.

Now, onto last week's comments:
From :Dragon (Guest) - "Seriously, you didn't take into account how well Fedor would be able to move around the Octagon after he has shit a full M-1 Global sized load into his shorts out of fear... that would make it even odds, right?

I just think we all needed a laugh, hence why I posted that.

From: Josh (Guest) - "Aside from a fluke punch or a lucky submission, I tend to think the best stragety against Brock would be one that emphasizes movement. A Machida type, if not Machida himself. That could actually be a hell of a fight in a year or two if both guys are still champions by then. Of course anything can happen in two years, but who knows?"

I love Lyoto as much as the next guy and you have a point about wanting to keep away from Brock and try to outpoint him(actually I did too), but Lyoto is way too small to ever pose a realistic threat to Lesnar. I'm not saying its impossible for guys to jump weight classes and be successful, but Brock is a different animal in that regard. He makes most average sized heavyweights look small, and a guy who at one time comfortably fought at 185 is going to be WAY outsized and mauled by him. To paraphrase boxing's greatest heavyweight champion Joe Louis, he can run but he can't hide.

From: guest guest (Guest) - "I think Kenny will be able to tap BJ later in the fight due to BJ's questionable conditioning. Anyone can be tapped when they are fatigued regardless of BJJ skill. Remember the old saying "fatigue makes cowards of us all?" I don't see BJ tapping Florian because, well, he's never been tapped beofre in mma and I just don't think BJ will be the man to do it. I just brought up the GSP to show that BJ didn't simply lose due to size. GSP actually outstruck him. Once again, Kenny is no GSP, but I think he can at least hang with BJ long enough to tire him out and get the late victory."


Sorry, I just thought we could use another laugh before we get serious.

From: Jeremy S (Registered) - "Good article. I'm very curious to see how Brock handles a great striker that is harder to take down. Carwin might be his next fight, so maybe we will get to see a little bit of a test there.

I do think we will (or hope we will) start seeing more heavyweights like Brock who are big and athletic. Perhaps pushing out the Coutures and Mirs who are practically just Light HWs not dropping down to fight at that weight. Instead we might see more guys that walk around over 265 like Brock, dropping down to that weight for fights. Then Brock might not stand out as much. I'm very curious to see what comes out of the next season of TUF."

First off Jeremy thanks for the complement. I'm not so sure if we're going to see more like Brock coming into the heavyweight division. He seems to be more the exception than the rule in regard to "super" heavyweights. I also wouldn't put Frank Mir in the size category of a Couture. Mir is a legit heavyweight as is anyone who weighs in at 230 or above regularly. I don't think we're seeing the dawn of the super heavyweights. A guy like Brock is rare in that most of the men his size have nowhere near his athletic ability or physical gifts of speed and dexterity. Most of them are clumsy and plodding giants who a smaller yet skilled opponent can deal with. As far as TUF goes, look for either well known Big Country Nelson or vastly unknown Jon Madsen to win the series. Big Country is very experienced and has even been in with a former champ in Arlovski, while Madsen is a great wrestler who can hit. He even holds a high school wrestling victory over Lesnar!

Now onto the man who shocked the MMA world on Sunday night. Brian Bowles moved to 8-0 with his title victory over Miguel Torres, 5 by way of submission and 3 by knockout including Torres. He's an intimidating figure to say the least. As Jackie Gleason used to say, "And awaaayyyyy we gooooo!"

1) Hand Speed - As he proved on Sunday night, Brian Bowles is capable of putting you in serious jeopardy with just one right hand. However, Bowles also showed us that he's not necessarily fast with his hands either. Bowles makes no bones that his preferred game is to take things to the ground and try and submit his opponent. Every fight starts on the feet though and at some point more often than not you're going to have to stand up and fight standing up. Slow hands are very detrimental in that regard and the lower the weight the bigger the liability.



The bantamweight division is home to guys who like to stand up and exchange. Earlier this year former champion Miguel Torres and then unknown challenger Takeya Mizugaki delivered a toe to toe war for five rounds over the belt Bowles now owns. Each of those men prefer to keep things standing and have both fast hands and KO power. While Bowles defeated Torres, its far from a lock he'd do it every time out and Mizugaki brings his unique style to the table as well.

2) Head Movement - This is in correlation with the first weakness we pointed out in Brian's stand up game. While Miguel Torres was trying to put on a show for the fans with flashy combinations, Bowles played right into Miguel's hands momentarily because when Miguel flurried Brian didn't move his head. Ever wonder why Minotauro Nogueira looks in rough shape these days when someone stands up and strikes with him? It's because he takes every punch they throw at him because he doesn't move his head. Nogueira may land some in return, but who's the worse for wear 9 times out of 10 when in a situation like that?



What this can lead to isn't necessarily Brian being stopped on strikes, although Torres did hurt him. It can lead to someone adopting a get in and get out style, stick and move strategy. Hit Bowels with a good combination because odds are you'll land close to everything, then pull out and take the center of the octagon. Use movement to stay away from him in the clinch or attempting a takedown and watch out for his big bombs. Right there you can see Bowles drop a five round decision and lose the title he just won.The two guys who I really feel can execute this are again Torres and Mizugaki. Fast hands and fleet feet allow you to beat anybody so long as you fight smart. Torres didn't fight smart and he got caught.

3) Chin - The one thing everyone talked about was how shocked they were Bowles was able to beat Torres the way he did. He had to play Miguel's game and stand with him, and landed a big right hand that started the finish of the fight. However, prior to that Bowles had been visibly hurt by Torres. While Miguel is a very well educated and dynamic striker, he's not known as a one punch KO artist. I'm not saying Miguel doesn't hit hard, but its not common where he lands one shot at the start of one of his combinations or flurries that immediately hurts the opposition.

In addition, Brian may wind up taking a lot of strikes to the head when faced with a competent striker due to his lack of head movement. This is going to wear down his punch resistance and resolve and he'll get easier and easier to hurt, and when hurt a smart fighter will always finish the job.

Dominic Cruz has been on an absolute tear since his move to 135 pounds and really looked on his game when out pointing Joseph Benavidez on the same card Bowles won his belt on. He's shown a real mental strength for the MMA game and he's a great example of someone who would go in there with the right mentality of trying to outpoint Bowles rather than to immediately look for the finish.

Who Can Beat Him?


Miguel Torres Even Odds - Do I think Bowles got lucky? No because that's insulting. I think he benefited from Miguel getting sloppy and took advantage of it like a great fighter is supposed to. However an A-game Miguel Torres is a nearly impossible man to beat. Miguel wasn't on his A-game, he seemed more concern with trying to be impressive and take out Bowles as quick as possible. I feel the second time around Miguel wouldn't make said mistake and would put up a much better fight. Why isn't he a favorite then? Because Bowles can take him out quickly, and both men know it.

Takeya Mizugaki 3:1 - Takeya caught everyone's attention with his gutsy performance against Miguel Torres, not giving an inch in an incredible war of attrition between champion and challenger. He loves and thrives in the stand up game, but is in trouble should the fight go to the ground. Jeff Curran nearly submitted him with a very tight triangle choke that he somehow survived, and also thwarted an early guillotine attempt. Bowles is superior to Curran in most every way, so the best I can give Mizugaki is 3:1.


Dominic Cruz 4:1 - Like I said, Cruz is a smart guy, and for the most part MMA is a thinking man's game. His approach is somewhat simplistic however, and he hasn't shown me a killer instinct as of late to finish an opponent he has in jeopardy. Its certainly not out of the question for him to win, but until I see more from him I have to make it 4:1 for now.

That's it for this week. Next week we're going one on one with The Prodigy, BJ Penn. He just dispatched the man who was supposed to pose his toughest challenge with relative ease. How the hell can we do any better?